It's Nearly Here!
With the West Dean Chilli Fiesta just around the corner and celebrating its 20th year of scorching the tongues of countless iron stomached patrons young and old, what better way to begin our build-up of one of the biggest and best chili festivals in our green…(yellow and red)…pleasant land, than with a comprehensive round up of all the culinary delights that can be experienced by festival goers this August at our Cookery Theatre. After all, we all love food, regardless of its potential "fire" power.

Putting On A Show
"I want to burn with the spirit of the times…the theatre can play an enormous part in the transformation of the whole of existence."
― Vsevolod Meyerhold

…Sure it's not theatre in the same sense as can be seen amongst the bright lights of Broadway or the West End, but it's hard not to get excited about what our own Theatre, our Cookery Theatre is sure to throw our way in just over a month's time. "Burning with spirit" is exactly right, as four wonderful guest chefs aim to use the power of the chilli and some superb original recipes to demonstrate and delight on stage over the three day celebration.

The Protagonists:

'The African Chef'

Malcolm Riley aka 'The African Chef' is a self-taught chef born and raised in Zambia with English, Indian and of course African heritage that have all inspired his unique brand of cooking. He has risen from travelling to the UK with nothing but a suitcase and a dream, to becoming an award winning producer of the finest African inspired cordials, jams, chilli and baobab condiments, using local UK ingredients alongside African tree foods for an irresistible combination. See The African Chef doing his thing here.

Rosemary Moon
The 18-times cookery author and freelance eco-gastronomy guru Rosemary Moon will be serving up a storm at Chilli Fiesta this year in her beloved home County; teaching festival goers about her real passion for seasonal ingredients, cooking creatively and sourcing ingredients well to create some beautiful dishes (with a fiery kick of course). Rosemary will also be joined on stage by chilli enthusiast and well known food, drink and travel writer Andy Lynes, author of our new favourite book, 'Insite the Red Hot World of the Chilli Cult: How to be a Chilli Head'.

Troels Bendix
This Danish-Born Master Baker trained as a chef at the Culinary Institute of Denmark before foundingThe Hungry Guest Bakery, Food Shop and Café in Petworth, where Troels and his small team cook up some tantalising sauces, marinades, jams, chutneys, ready meals and a host of other little indulgences that are sure to get the taste buds tingling.

Levi Roots
Perhaps the most well-known performer at our theatre of (delicious) dreams this Summer will be Levi Roots, founder of his own brand ofReggae Reggae sauces, soft drinks, snacks, pasties, wraps, cakes and more when receiving funding for his dream on BBC's Dragon's Den in 2007. The sky is the limit for this popular spice lover from Clarendon and he'll be sharing his secrets with us on stage with a Jamaican cooking masterclass.

Don't miss it!
So be sure to get yourselves down to West Dean Gardens 7th, 8th and 9th of August to feel the heat and witness pure cookery theatre!

The Programme

Friday

11.15 - Rosemary Moon with The African Chef, Malcolm Riley
13.30 - Rosemary Moon with food, drink and travel writer Andy Lynes and author of How to be a Chilli Head
15.00 - Rosemary Moon with The Hungry Guest
16.30 - Rosemary Moon, Curry and Whisky Tasting

Saturday

11.15 - Rosemary Moon with The African Chef, Malcolm Riley
13.30 - Rosemary Moon with food, drink and travel writer Andy Lynes and author of How to be a Chilli Head
15.00 - Danish-born Master Baker, Troels Bendix of The Hungry Guest
16.30 - Rosemary Moon, Curry and Whisky Tasting

Sunday

11.15 - Rosemary Moon with The African Chef, Malcolm Riley
13.30 - Rosemary Moon and Levi Roots creator of Reggae Reggae Sauce
15.00 - Danish-born Master Baker, Troels Bendix of The Hungry Guest
16.30 - Rosemary Moon, Curry and Whisky Tasting

For more information on The Chilli Fiesta and all of our great Summer events here at West Dean College and Gardens, visit our Events page.